Month: April 2026

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Report on Stewart Furini . Special day with a guest turner

Saturday April 25th saw us hosting Stewart to demonstrate some of the secrets he uses to colour and texture pieces of woodturning. We also enjoyed a lunch laid on by Richard Comfort. The day passed very quickly with fascinating demonstrations and Stewart’s easy going approach and sharp humour. We have no intention of explaining techniques here, but trust that the following images provide reminders for those who attended, and inspiration for those who did not. Also have a look at Stewarts website. Stewart Furini Woodturning – Home

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Our Next Meeting 30th April 6.45 pm

Doors from 6 pm. Showtime meeting. Bring your turned items to show and discuss, with the whole of the club. You can bring more than one, and we will try to fit them all in. This maybe something you are proud to show, something that demonstrates a technique or something you want some advice on.

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Use a club lathe/ mushroom making evening.

23rd April 6.30pm

This evening offers the use of a club lathe to members who want to. At the time of writing this, there are a couple of spaces available, so just turn up if you want to. We are also making some mushrooms ready for the children’s activities on the open day in August.

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Report of Meeting 16th April 2026

Alec led us through some of the tools and skills needed to make a lamp.

Explaining the fixing of the cable and wiring to make the lamp safe.

In this session he did little turning , and more demonstration and hints and tips on things such as thread cutting.

A slight hollow allows the parts to sit square
A Robert Sorby male thread cutting tool
Using a tap to make the female thread with sacrificial blocks to protect the entrance.

Once the parts have been created the centre needs hollowing. Alec demonstrated this with a specialist hollow centring bit and an auger.

Tip in place to centre the piece.
Removing the tip allows the auger to go through the centre
The cutting part is quite small, so hollow a few cm at a time and then withdraw to clear the flute.
The hole borer in practice, complete with tool.
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Services to Members

  1. Cutting.  If you have some wood to cut using a  bandsaw or planer/ thicknesser please ask Alan Smith or John Ruickbie on a club night and they will organise it. This service can also extend to tool sharpening.
  2. Tuition.  We can offer tuition on alternate  Thursdays ( not meeting nights) and also normally have one lathe available on club nights. This can be for beginners, or for people who want some help with particular techniques. Please discuss your needs with Nick Simpson.
  3. Lathe use: We are investigating the practicalities of making the workshop available for those who want to use one of the club lathes. There are practical considerations such as safety and having people to oversee these sessions.  We are offering a TRIAL of this on the evening of 23rd April. Please ask NEIL FARNHAM if you would like to take a lathe on that evening.
  4. Social time. We open the doors on club nights at 6pm so there is time to socialise, and have a drink !  Tea and Coffee is free.  We also have a table where you can bring things that you would like to discuss or just show people
  5. Wood . Alec Mutch has a supply of turning blanks available at good prices at club meetings. He will also take orders if you have a particular wish.
  6. Guest turners. We have a number of “ Celebrity “ turners coming on for demonstrations.  The next is on  Saturday April 25th when we have Stewart Furini Stewart Furini Woodturning – Home. This is a full day event. There is a nominal charge of £5 for catering. £10 for non members


Also : We are having an Open Day  on August 8th. You are invited to join the group that is organising the day.  Susan Drew and Neil Farnham are coordinating the group, so please contact them if you would like to join this group.  You are also invited to a meeting on 7th May at 6.30pm if you would like to join.

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Report of the meeting 2nd April 2026

Neil led us in some “hands on” techniques of colouring.

I think many of us were surprised that a fairly boring looking coloured lump of wood ended up looking so good when Alec turned the centres out.

It was also the first Shield competition of the year. Results as follows.

Novice: 1st: Lyn Holmes, 2nd : Mytilda Rattray, 3rd: Bob Bull

Intermediate : 1st: Susan Drew, 2nd: Barry Cumming, 3rd: Mario Baglioni

Open: 1st: Keith Hodgson, 2nd: Nick Simpson, 3rd: David Hobson